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The Dutch offshore company Allseas has announced plans to transition its large installation ships to nuclear power by 2030. Collaborating with the Delft University of Technology, Allseas is developing small modular reactors (SMRs) for this purpose. Project leader Stephanie Heerema stated, "Our goal is to start production by 2030. The first application will likely be on land, followed by our ships and industrial use." This initiative aims to reduce Allseas' CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Allseas is the first major shipping company globally to announce such a shift. Currently, only military vessels like aircraft carriers and submarines use nuclear power. Russia also operates nuclear-powered icebreakers. The company's flagship, the Pioneering Spirit, is longer than an American aircraft carrier at 382 meters. The challenge of refueling at sea makes nuclear energy a practical choice over alternatives like hydrogen, methanol, or ammonia.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has recently tightened sustainability regulations for shipping, which accounts for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. While companies like CMA-CGM and Maersk are experimenting with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methanol, the availability and cost of these fuels remain barriers. Rolls Royce, known for its submarine reactors, is also developing SMRs for industrial use, but Allseas is creating its own high-temperature gas-cooled reactor in partnership with Dutch researchers.
Annet Koster, director of the Royal Association of Dutch Shipowners, believes this technology could position the Netherlands as a leader in sustainable shipping and enhance Europe's energy security.
